Method and apparatus for mu resource request

ABSTRACT

Aspects of the disclosure provide an apparatus for wireless communication. The apparatus includes a transceiver and a processing circuit. The transceiver is configured to transmit and receive wireless signals. The processing circuit is configured to configure a field within a data unit for buffer information report, determine a first scale factor for scaling a first value indicative of buffered traffic of a first category, and a second scale factor for scaling a second value indicative of buffered traffic of a category, configure the field to include the first scale factor with the first value and the second scale factor with the second value, and provide the data unit to the transceiver for transmitting to another apparatus that allocates resources for transmission between the two apparatuses.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This present disclosure claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/352,719, “MU RESOURCE REQUEST, TID SELECTION, ANDRESPONDING RULES” filed on Jun. 21, 2016, which is incorporated hereinby reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The background description provided herein is for the purpose ofgenerally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of thepresently named inventors, to the extent the work is described in thisbackground section, as well as aspects of the description that may nototherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neitherexpressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the presentdisclosure.

A wireless local area network (WLAN) is used in home, school, officebuilding, store, shopping mall and the like to link two or more devicesusing wireless connections within a limited area to a network. The WLANallows users to move around within the limited area and still beconnected to the network. In addition, the WLAN can be configured toprovide connections to other network, such as, a wide area network,Internet and the like. Generally, WLANs are implemented based onstandards, such as IEEE 802.11 standards, and the like.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the disclosure provide an apparatus for wirelesscommunication. The apparatus includes a transceiver and a processingcircuit. The transceiver is configured to transmit and receive wirelesssignals. The processing circuit is configured to configure a fieldwithin a data unit for buffer information report, determine a firstscale factor for scaling a first value indicative of buffered traffic ofa first category, and a second scale factor for scaling a second valueindicative of buffered traffic of a category, configure the field toinclude the first scale factor with the first value and the second scalefactor with the second value, and provide the data unit to thetransceiver for transmitting to another apparatus that allocatesresources for transmission between the two apparatuses.

In an example, the processing circuit is configured to set a controlsubfield with an identifier that is indicative of buffer informationreport. In another example, the first category and the second categoryrespectively correspond to traffic priorities, and the processingcircuit is configured to include traffic identifiers of the trafficpriorities in the field.

In an embodiment, the first category includes multiple trafficpriorities, and the processing circuit is configured to determine thefirst scale factor for scaling the first value that is indicative of asum of buffered traffic of the multiple traffic priorities. In anotherembodiment, the data unit is a null frame that has no data field and hasa quality of service (QoS) field that includes buffered trafficinformation of a specific traffic class that the data unit belongs to.Further, when the specific traffic class is one of the first trafficclass and the second traffic class, the buffer information report in thefield dominates the buffered traffic information of QoS field.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, the processing circuit isconfigured to aggregate the data unit with one or more other data unitsto generate an aggregated data unit, and provide the aggregated dataunit to the transceiver for transmitting to the other apparatus.

Aspects of the disclosure provide a method for wireless communication.The method includes configuring, by an apparatus, a field within a dataunit for buffer information report, determining a first scale factor forscaling a first value indicative of buffered traffic of a firstcategory, and a second scale factor for scaling a second valueindicative of buffered traffic of a category, including the first scalefactor with the first value and the second scale factor with the secondvalue in the field within the data unit, and transmitting wirelesssignals carrying the data unit to another apparatus that allocatesresources for transmission between the two apparatuses.

Aspects of the disclosure provide a non-transitory computer readablemedium storing program instructions for causing a processor in anapparatus to execute operations for communication. The operationsinclude configuring, a field within a data unit for buffer informationreport, determining a first scale factor for scaling a first valueindicative of buffered traffic of a first category, and a second scalefactor for scaling a second value indicative of buffered traffic of acategory, including the first scale factor with the first value and thesecond scale factor with the second value in the field within the dataunit and providing the data unit to a transceiver circuit to transmitwireless signals carrying the data unit to another apparatus thatallocates resources for transmission between the two apparatuses.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of this disclosure that are proposed as exampleswill be described in detail with reference to the following figures,wherein like numerals reference like elements, and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a network 100 according to an embodimentof the disclosure;

FIG. 2 shows a flow chart outlining a process 200 according to anembodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 3 shows a diagram of a data unit example 300 according to anembodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 4 shows a diagram of a data unit example 400 according to anembodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 5 shows a diagram of a data unit example 500 according to anembodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 6 shows a diagram 600 for traffic selection according to anembodiment of the disclosure; and

FIG. 7 shows a diagram 700 for block acknowledgement request accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a network 100 according to an embodimentof the disclosure. The network 100 includes a first electronic device110 and one or more second electronic devices 160 a-160 n that conductwireless communication in a central coordinated manner to enablemulti-user (MU) downlink and/or uplink transmissions. In the FIG. 1example, the first electronic device 110 is a central coordinatingdevice configured to assign resources (e.g., time, frequency, resourceelement, resource unit) of a communication channel for transmissionbetween the first electronic device 110 and the second electronicdevices 160 a-160 n, and coordinate multi-user downlink and/or uplinktransmission between the first electronic device 110 and the secondelectronic devices 160 a-160 n. Further, the first electronic device 110and the second electronic devices 160 a-160 n are configured to performvarious operations, such as multi-user resource requests, traffic classselections, and the like to support the MU downlink and/or uplinktransmission, and improve spectral efficiency.

The network 100 includes interconnections that are implemented using anysuitable network technology, such wired, wireless, a local area network(LAN), a wireless LAN (WLAN), a fiber optical network, a wide areanetwork (WAN), a peer-to-peer network, the Internet, and the like. In anexample, the first electronic device 110 and the second electronicdevices 160 a-160 n are in a basic service set (BSS) 101 that isimplemented using WLAN technology to interconnect the first device 110and the second devices 160 a-160 n. The network 100 includes othersuitable interconnections (not shown), such as a LAN, a fiber opticalnetwork, and the like to provide connections for the BSS 101 to beconnected to for example Internet.

In an embodiment, the BSS 101 is an infrastructure type basic serviceset. The first electronic device 110 is an access point (AP) device, andthe second electronic devices 160-a-160 n are station (STA) devices. Thesecond electronic devices 160 a-160 n communicate through the firstdevice 110, and the first device 110 includes network hardware andsoftware configured to serve as a bridge to allow wireless compliantdevices, such as the second electronic devices 160 a-160 n to connect toother part of the network 100.

Each of the second electronic devices 160 a-160 n in the network 100 canbe any suitable device, such as a desktop computer, a laptop computer, atablet computer, a smart phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), asmart watch, a smart camera, a smart TV, a smart voice recorder, awearable device, a sensor, and the like. According to an aspect of thedisclosure, the second electronic devices 160 a-160 n in the network 100are implemented using the same version or different versions of awireless standard, such as various IEEE 802.11 standards.

In the FIG. 1 example, the second electronic devices 160 a-160 n shareresources of a communication channel for a transmission, and the firstelectronic device 110 is configured to assign the resources of thetransmission (e.g., time, frequency, resource element, resource unit) todata unit (e.g., frame) exchanges between the first electronic device110 and the second electronic devices 160 a-160 n. The second electronicdevices 160 a-160 n are configured to perform transmission according tothe assigned resources. For example, at a time, the first electronicdevice 110 plans to transmit data units respectively to a group ofsecond electronic devices among the second electronic devices 160 a-160n. The group of second electronic devices involved in a transmission isreferred to as targeted second electronic devices. The first electronicdevice 110 allocates resources of a transmission to the targeted secondelectronic devices, and performs a transmission to transmit data unitsrespectively to the targeted second electronic devices in the sametransmission according to the resource allocation of the transmission.

In another example, the first electronic device 110 schedules to receivedata units respectively from targeted second electronic devices amongthe second electronic devices 160 a-160 n. The first electronic device110 allocates resources of a transmission to the targeted secondelectronic devices. The targeted second electronic devices performtransmissions in a same time duration to respectively transmit dataunits to the first electronic device 110 according to resourceallocation, and the first electronic device 110 receives the data unitsfrom the targeted second electronic devices in the same scheduled timeduration for example.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, devices in the BSS 101, suchas the first electronic device 110, the second electronic devices 160a-160 n and the like are configured to transmit two or more data unitsusing an aggregation technique. In an embodiment, the first electronicdevice 110 aggregates two or more media access control (MAC) protocoldata units (MPDUs) to a same destination device (e.g., a secondelectronic device), and forms an aggregated MPDU (A-MPDU). For example,the first electronic device 110 collects Ethernet frames (e.g., dataunits) to the same destination device, and wraps each frame individuallywith a MAC header. Then the first electronic device 110 groups thewrapped frames into a larger frame. In the example, at the receptionside, the destination device can selectively acknowledge individualEthernet frames.

In another embodiment, one or more of the second electronic devices 160a-160 n can aggregate two or more MPDUs to the first electronic device110, and form an A-MPDU. For example, the second electronic device 160 aand the second electronic device 160 n respectively collect Ethernetframes (e.g., data units) and wrap each frame individually with a MACheader. Then the second electronic device 160 a and the secondelectronic device 160 n respectively group the wrapped frames intolarger frames. In another embodiment, one or more of the secondelectronic devices 160 a-160 n transmit single MPDU to the firstelectronic device 110.

Generally, wireless communication traffic is classified into trafficclasses according to priorities and the wireless communication trafficis buffered into queues (e.g., first-in-first-out queues) according tothe traffic classes. In an embodiment, wireless communication traffic isfirst categorized into access categories based on the applications thatgenerate the wireless communication traffic, and then each accesscategory includes multiple traffic classes of different priorities. Inan example, the traffic classes are identified using priorities astraffic identifiers (TIDs).

According to an aspect of the disclosure, devices in the BSS 101, suchas the first electronic device 110, the second electronic devices 160a-160 n and the like are configured to aggregate communication trafficfrom different traffic classes to improve transmission efficiency. In anexample, the second electronic device 160 a aggregates a first MPDU of afirst traffic identifier, and a second MPDU of a second trafficidentifier to form a first aggregated A-MPDU; and the second electronicdevice 160 n aggregates a third MPDU of a third traffic identifier, anda fourth MPDU of a fourth traffic identifier to form a second aggregatedA-MPDU. In the example, the first aggregated A-MPDU and the secondaggregated A-MPDU are transmitted in synchronization respectively by thesecond electronic device 160 a and the second electronic device 160 nduring a transmission opportunity (TXOP). In an example, the firsttraffic identifier is the same as the second traffic identifier. Inanother example, the first traffic identifier is different from thesecond traffic identifier. In another example, the traffic classes ofthe first aggregated A-MPDU are the same as the traffic classes of thesecond aggregated A-MPDU. In another example, the traffic classes of thefirst aggregated A-MPDU are different from the traffic classes of thesecond aggregated A-MPDU. In another embodiment, MPDUs from more thantwo traffic identifiers are aggregated in one A-MPDU.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, the first electronic device110 is configured to select traffic classes in response to resourcerequests from the second electronic devices 160 a-160 n. In anembodiment, the second electronic devices 160 a-160 n are configured toefficiently use communication channel resource to provide the resourcerequests. In an example, the resource requests are provided in the formof buffer information reports. In the example, the second electronicdevices 160 a-160 n are configured to send buffer report for two or moretraffic classes in a data unit. Further, the second electronic devices160 a-160 n are configured to aggregate multiple data units with bufferreports into an aggregated data unit, thus buffer reports for multipletraffic classes can be provided in one uplink transmission in anexample. Examples of the data units that carry the buffer reports areshown in FIGS. 3-5, and will be discusses in detail with reference toFIGS. 3-5.

Specifically, in the FIG. 1 example, the first electronic device 110includes a first transceiver circuit 113 and a first processing circuit120 coupled together as shown in FIG. 1. In the example, the firsttransceiver circuit 113 includes a first receiving circuit 116 and afirst transmitting circuit 115 that are both coupled to a first antenna114, and the first processing circuit 120 includes a MAC controller 130configured to perform MAC layer operations, such as processing MPDUand/or A-MPDU, extracting buffer information reports from aggregatedA-MPDU, selecting traffic classes for multiple users, and the like.

The first transceiver circuit 113 is configured to receive and transmitwireless signals. For example, the first receiving circuit 116 isconfigured to generate electrical signals in response to capturedelectromagnetic waves by the first antenna 114, process the electricalsignals to extract digital streams from the electrical signals. In anexample, the first transmitting circuit 115 is configured to receivedigital streams, such as management frames, data frames, and the likefrom for example the first processing circuit 120, generate radiofrequency (RF) signals to carry the digital streams, and emitelectromagnetic waves in the air via the first antenna 114 to transmitwireless signals that carry the digital streams.

The second electronic device 160 a includes a second transceiver circuit163 a and a second processing circuit 170 a coupled together. The secondtransceiver circuit 163 a includes a second transmitting circuit 165 aand a second receiving circuit 166 a that are both coupled to a secondantenna 164 a. The second processing circuit 170 a includes a MACcontroller 180 a configured to perform MAC layer operations, such aspreparing buffer information reports, aggregating frames with bufferinformation reports, selecting traffic classes, generating MPDU and/orA-MPDU, and the like. Other second electronic devices are configuredsimilarly as the second electronic device 160 a.

The second transceiver circuit 163 a is configured to receive andtransmit wireless signals. For example, the second receiving circuit 166a is configured to generate electrical signals in response to capturedelectromagnetic waves by the second antenna 164 a, process theelectrical signals to extract digital streams from the electricalsignals. In an example, the second transmitting circuit 165 a isconfigured to receive digital streams, such as management frames, dataframes, and the like from for example the processing circuit 170 a,generate radio frequency (RF) signals to carry the digital streams, andemit electromagnetic waves in the air via the second antenna 164 a totransmit wireless signals that carry the digital streams.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, the MAC controller 180 a isconfigured to generate a data unit to carry buffer information for twoor more traffic classes to allow the data unit to carry more bufferinformation to the first electronic device 110, and thus to improvecommunication efficiency. In an example, the MAC controller 180 a countsthe length (e.g., the number of bytes) of unacknowledged data units in abuffer that buffers data units for a traffic class. The length ofunacknowledged data units in the buffer is indicative of pending uplinktraffic, and is used as buffer information to request resource foruplink transmission.

In an embodiment, the MAC controller 180 a is configured to determine ascale factor for the length information, thus the length information isprovided with a reduced number of bits, thus length information for moretraffic classes can be carried in one data unit. In another embodiment,the MAC controller 180 a is configured to sum the length information ofmultiple traffic classes, and let the data unit to carry the summedlength information. In another embodiment, the MAC controller 180 a isconfigured to aggregate two or more data units with buffer informationof different traffic classes into one aggregated data unit, thus theaggregated data unit carries buffer information for more trafficclasses. Examples of the data units that carry the buffer information oftwo or more traffic classes are shown in FIGS. 3-5, and will bediscusses in detail with reference to FIGS. 3-5.

Further, according to an aspect of the disclosure, the MAC controller130 and the MAC controller 180 a-180 n are configured to aggregate dataunits (e.g., MPDUs) from selected traffic classes to generate anaggregated data unit (e.g., A-MPDU). In an embodiment, a primary accesscategory is selected by an AP device (e.g., the first electronic device110), a secondary access category is selected by the AP device or a STAdevice (e.g., the second electronic device 160 a). The MAC controller130 and the MAC controller 180 a-180 n are configured to aggregate dataunits from the primary access category, or aggregate data units from thesecondary access category, or aggregate data units from the primaryaccess category and the secondary access category. Examples of theaggregated data units are shown in FIG. 6, and will be discusses indetail with reference to FIG. 6.

Further, according to an aspect of the disclosure, the MAC controller130 is configured to generate a data unit to carry block acknowledgementrequests for multiple traffic classes. In an example, the MAC controller130 aggregates multiple block acknowledgement request framesrespectively for multiple traffic classes into a larger frame. Inanother example, the MAC controller 130 generates a frame that carries amulti-TID block acknowledgement request. In another example, the MACcontroller 130 inserts a multi-TID block acknowledgement request in afield of a frame, such as a field in a trigger frame. Examples of thedata units are shown in FIG. 7, and will be discusses in detail withreference to FIG. 7.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, when an STA device isscheduled by the AP device in multi-user transmission, the STA deviceenters a low priority EDCA state; when the STA device is not scheduledby the AP device in multi-user transmission, the STA device enters ahigh priority EDCA state. In the high EDCA state, the STA device usesEDCA to gain transmission chance for traffic classes, and EDCA for highpriority traffic classes can gain higher transmission chances. In anembodiment, when the STA device is in the low priority EDCA state, theSTA device is allowed to transmit urgent MPDUs, such as managementframes for voice access category, block acknowledgement request frames,and the like using EDCA for high priority traffic classes.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, an AP device, such as thefirst electronic device 110, and the like, can determine thescheduled/non-scheduled operation mode for the BSS 101, and can announcethe scheduled/non-scheduled operation mode using beacon/managementframe. In an example, the AP device is configured to determine both thescheduled and the non-scheduled operation mode for the BSS 101. Forexample, when the AP device announces non-scheduled operation mode, allthe STA devices enter the non-scheduled operation mode; and when the APdevices announces scheduled operation mode, all the STA devices enterthe scheduled operation mode.

In an example, the AP device is configured to determine thenon-scheduled operation mode for the BSS 101, and the STA devices havethe flexibility to determine operation mode. For example, when the APdevice announces non-scheduled operation mode, all the STA devices enterthe non-scheduled operation mode; and when the AP devices announcesscheduled operation mode, each STA device determines and enters eitherscheduled operation mode or non-scheduled operation mode, and informsthe AP device via announcement. In another example, the AP device isconfigured to determine respective operation modes for the STA devices,and inform the operation modes to the STA devices.

In an embodiment, the first electronic device 110 and the secondelectronic devices 160 a-160 n are implemented according to an opensystems interconnection model (OSI model) with a plurality of layers,such as a physical (PHY) layer, a media access control (MAC) layer, anetwork layer, and the like from bottom up. In an example, the PHY layerincludes transceiver circuits and baseband processing circuits in theprocessing circuits. In an embodiment, the MAC controller 130 and theMAC controllers 180 a-180 n are implemented in the MAC layer usingcircuits. In another embodiment, the MAC controller 130 and the MACcontrollers 180 a-180 n are implemented as processors executing softwareinstructions.

It is noted that while single antenna per device is used in the FIG. 1example, the network 100 can be suitably modified to use multiple input,multiple output (MIMO) antenna technology.

FIG. 2 shows a flow chart outlining a process 200 according to anembodiment of the disclosure. In an example, the process 200 is executedby a second electronic device, such as the second electronic device 160a. The process starts at S201 and proceeds to S210.

At S210, a determination to report buffer information is made. In anexample, the second electronic device 160 a determines to report bufferinformation in response to a signal, such as a polling message, from thefirst electronic device 110. In another example, the second electronicdevice 160 a initiates the buffer information report.

At S220, a control identifier (ID) or QoS Control field in MAC header ofQoS Data/Null frame is configured to indicate buffer information report.In an example, a configurable field (e.g., HT control field) in a framecan be used for multiple purposes. The field includes one or more bitsthat are allocated for a control identifier that can be configured toindicate a specific purpose of the field in the frame.

At S230, buffers corresponding to traffic classes are selected toreport. In an example, the second electronic device 160 a determinestraffic classes to report, and selects the buffers that buffer thetraffic classes.

At S240, scale factors are determined for buffer information reports. Inan example, a limited number of bits are used to report the length ofbuffered data, and different scale factors are used for different rangesand different resolutions. In the example, the second electronic device160 a determines the length of buffered data to report, and determines ascale factor based on the length, such that the limited number of bitscan report the length with a relatively high resolution in an example.

At S250, the configurable control field (e.g., HT control field or QoSControl field) with buffer information reports for multiple trafficclasses is generated. In an example, the second electronic device 160 agenerates the control field to include the control identifier and bufferinformation reports. Each buffer information report includes a scalefactor and unscaled buffer information.

At S260, the configurable control field is included in a data unit. Inan example, the second electronic device 160 a generates a data unitwith the configurable control field. In another example, the secondelectronic device 160 a aggregates multiple data units to generate anaggregated data unit.

At S270, a signal carrying the data unit is transmitted. In an example,the second electronic device 160 a generates wireless signals carryingthe data unit to the first electronic device 110. The first electronicdevice 110 can perform operations, such as allocate transmissionresources, select traffic classes, and the like based on the bufferinformation reports in the data unit. Then, the process proceeds to S299and terminates.

FIG. 3 shows a diagram of a data unit example 300 according to anembodiment of the disclosure. In an example, the second electronicdevice 160 a generates the data unit 300 to report buffer informationfor requesting transmission resource. The data unit 300 is a mediaaccess control (MAC) layer data unit, and is referred to as an MACprotocol data unit (MPDU) in an example. The data unit 300 includes aMAC header 310, frame body 311 and a frame check sequence (FCS) field312 (4 octets). The MAC header 310 includes a frame control field 301 (2octets), a duration field 302 (2 octets), address fields 303-305 (eachof 6 octets), a sequence control field 306 (2 octets), an optionaladdress field 306 (6 octets), a quality of service (QoS) control field308 (2 octets), a high throughput (HT) control field 320 (4 octets) andthe like.

Generally, in an example, the frame control field 301 identifies theframe type of the data unit 300, such as management frame, data frame,control frame and the like. In an example, the duration field 302specifies a period in which the data unit 300 is to be transmitted. Inan example, the address fields 303-306 identify destination address,source address, and access point address. In an example, the sequencecontrol field 306 tracks sequence and/or fragment numbers. In anexample, the FCS field 312 includes checksum for error checking.

In an embodiment, the QoS control field 308 and the HT control field 320are configured to include resource request information. In an example,the QoS control field 308 uses a plurality of sub-fields, such as atraffic identifier (TID) sub-field, an end of service (EOSP) sub-field,an acknowledgement (ACK) policy sub-field, a reserved (RSVD) sub-field,and a transmit opportunity (TXOP) duration/queue length subfield. In anexample, the TXOP duration/queue length subfield has eight bits and isused to carry buffer information, such as the length of buffered bytesfor transmission.

In the FIG. 3 example, the HT control field 320 is configured to carryresource request information. For example, the HT control field 320includes two bits (e.g., B0 and B1) that are used to indicate the usageof the HT control field 320. In the FIG. 3 example, the B0 and B1 areset to values to indicate that the HT control field 320 is used as highefficiency (HE) control, such as according to the 802.11ax standard.Further, the HT control field 320 includes a control ID sub-field 331(e.g., 4 bits), a sub-field 340 (e.g., 13 bits), and a sub-field 370(e.g., 13 bits). The control ID sub-field 331 indicates the type ofinformation, such as buffer information report, available channelreport, and the like, in the sub-fields 340 and 370. In the FIG. 3example, the control ID sub-field 331 is configured to have valuesindicating that the sub-field 340 is a first buffer information report340, and the sub-field 370 is a second buffer information report 370.

In an example, the first buffer information report 340 and the secondbuffer information report 370 are similarly configured. In the FIG. 3example, the first buffer information report 340 includes a trafficidentifier (TID) sub-field 341 and a buffer information sub-field 350.In an example, the TID sub-field 341 specifies a traffic identifier fora traffic class, and the buffer information sub-field 350 specifies theamount of buffered data in the traffic class. In an example, the trafficis classified according to priority levels. For example, a prioritylevel of a traffic class is used as the traffic identifier for thetraffic class.

Further, in the FIG. 3 example, the buffer information sub-field 350includes a scale factor 351, and unscaled buffer information 352, thusthe buffered traffic is calculated as a product of the scale factor andthe unscaled buffer information. In an example, 1 bit is used for thescale factor 351 and 9 bits are used for the unscaled buffer information352. For example, when the scale factor 351 is binary 0, the unscaledbuffer information 352 is in the unit of 16 octets, thus the bufferinformation sub-field 350 is used to report traffic in the range from 0to 8176 octets; when the scale factor 351 is binary 1, the unscaledbuffer information 352 is in the unit of 2048 octets, thus the bufferinformation sub-field 350 is used to report traffic in the range from 0to 1,048,636 octets.

In another example, 2 bits are used for the scale factor 351 and 8 bitsare used for the unscaled buffer information 352. For example, when thescale factor 351 is binary “00”, the unscaled buffer information 352 isin the unit of 8 octets, thus the buffer information sub-field 350 isused to report traffic in the range from 0 to 2040 octets; when thescale factor 351 is binary “01”, the unscaled buffer information 352 isin the unit of 64 octets, thus the buffer information sub-field 350 isused to report traffic in the range from 64 to 16,384 octets; when thescale factor 351 is binary “10”, the unscaled buffer information 352 isin the unit of 512 octets, thus the buffer information sub-field 350 isused to report traffic in the range from 512 to 131,072 octets; when thescale factor 351 is binary “11”, the unscaled buffer information 352 isin the unit of 8,192 octets, thus the buffer information sub-field 350is used to report traffic in the range from 8,192 to 2,097,152 octets.In another embodiment, 2 bits in QoS Control field are used for thescale factor and 6 bits are used for unscaled buffer information.

In an example, the first buffer information report 340 and the secondbuffer information report 370 are similarly configured. Thus, the dataunit 300 is used to report buffer information for two traffic classes.

It is noted that, in an example, the frame body 311 is omitted, and thedata unit 300 has no data payload, and is referred to as a null dataframe or QoS null frame. In an embodiment, the null data frame is usedas a control frame. For example, the second electronic devices 160 a-160n use null data frames to provide control information to the firstelectronic device 110.

In an embodiment, the QoS control field 308 is configured to carrybuffer information of a first traffic class which the data unit 300belongs to, and the HT control field 320 is configured to carry bufferinformation of second and third traffic classes other than the firsttraffic class. In another embodiment, the QoS control field 308 isconfigured to carry buffer information of a first traffic class whichthe data unit 300 belongs to, the HT control field 320 is configured tocarry buffer information of second traffic and third classes includingthe first traffic class, then the buffer information of the firsttraffic class in the HT control field 320 takes precedence over thebuffer information in the QoS control field 308.

FIG. 4 shows a diagram of a data unit example 400 according to anembodiment of the disclosure. In an example, the second electronicdevice 160 a generates the data unit 400 to report buffer informationfor resource request.

The data unit 400 includes fields and sub-fields that are similarlyconfigured as the corresponding fields and sub-fields in the data unit300. The description of these fields and sub-fields has been providedabove and will be omitted here for clarity purposes.

However, in the FIG. 4 example, the first buffer information reportsub-field 440 includes a single TID indicator 441, a TID sub-field 445and a buffer information sub-field 450. In an example, the single TIDindicator 441 includes 1 bit and the bit is used to indicate whether thefirst buffer information report is for a single traffic class, ormultiple traffic classes. For example, when the single TID indicator 441has binary 1, the TID sub-field 445 and the buffer information sub-field450 are used for a single traffic class. In an example, the TIDsub-field 445 specifies a traffic identifier for the single trafficclass, and the buffer information sub-field 450 specifies the amount ofbuffered data in the single traffic class for transmission.

When the single TID indicator 441 has binary 0, the TID sub-field 445and the buffer information sub-field 450 are used for multiple trafficclasses. For example, the TID sub-field 445 is reserved to identify themultiple traffic classes. In an example, the TID sub-field 445 can beused to identify one or more access categories (ACs) of the trafficclasses. The buffer information sub-field 450 specifies the amount ofbuffered data in the multiple traffic classes.

Further, in the FIG. 4 example, the buffer information sub-field 450includes a scale factor 451, and unscaled buffer information 452, thusthe buffered traffic is calculated as a product of the scale factor andthe unscaled buffer information. In an example, 1 bit is used for thescale factor 451 and 8 bits are used for the unscaled buffer information452. For example, when the scale factor 451 is binary 0, the unscaledbuffer information 452 is in the unit of 32 octets, thus the bufferinformation sub-field 450 is used to report traffic in the range from 0to 8160 octets; when the scale factor 451 is binary 1, the unscaledbuffer information 452 is in the unit of 4096 octets, thus the bufferinformation sub-field 450 is used to report traffic in the range from4096 to 1,048,636 octets.

In another example, 2 bits are used for the scale factor 451 and 7 bitsare used for the unscaled buffer information 452. For example, when thescale factor 451 is binary “00”, the unscaled buffer information 452 isin the unit of 8 octets, thus the buffer information sub-field 450 isused to report traffic in the range from 0 to 1016 octets; when thescale factor 451 is binary “01”, the unscaled buffer information 452 isin the unit of 64 octets, thus the buffer information sub-field 450 isused to report traffic in the range from 64 to 8,192 octets; when thescale factor 451 is binary “10”, the unscaled buffer information 452 isin the unit of 512 octets, thus the buffer information sub-field 450 isused to report traffic in the range from 512 to 65,536 octets; when thescale factor 451 is binary “11”, the unscaled buffer information 452 isin the unit of 8,192 octets, thus the buffer information sub-field 450is used to report traffic in the range from 8,192 to 1,048,536 octets.

In an example, the first buffer information report 440 and the secondbuffer information report 470 are similarly configured. In anotherexample, the second buffer information report 470 is configuredsimilarly as the first buffer information report 340 in the FIG. 3example.

It is noted that, in an example, the frame body 411 is omitted, and thedata unit 400 has no data payload, and is referred to as a null dataframe or QoS null frame. In an embodiment, the null data frame is usedas a control frame. For example, the second electronic devices 160 a-160n use null data frames to provide control information to the firstelectronic device 110.

FIG. 5 shows a diagram of an aggregated data unit example 500 accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure. In an example, the second electronicdevice 160 a generates the aggregated data unit 500. The aggregated dataunit 500 is an MAC layer data unit, and is referred to as an aggregatedMPDU (A-MPDU) in an example.

The aggregated data unit 500 includes multiple sub-frames, such as afirst sub-frame 510 and a second sub-frame 520 in the FIG. 5. Asub-frame includes a delimiter, an MPDU and padding. For example, thefirst sub-frame 510 includes a first delimiter 511, a first MPDU 512 anda first padding 513, and the second sub-frame 520 includes a seconddelimiter 521, a second MPDU 522 and a second padding 523.

In an embodiment, the multiple data units in the aggregated data unit500, such as the first MPDU 512 and the second MPDU 522, can have anysuitable formats. In an example, the second electronic device 160 agenerates the aggregated data unit 500 with both the first MPDU 512 andthe second MPDU 522 being QoS null frames. In an example, the first MPDU512 and the second MPDU 522 are configured to carry buffer informationfor different traffic classes. In an example, the first MPDU 512 and thesecond MPDU 522 have different traffic identifiers (TIDs), so the QoSControl fields of the first MPDU 512 and the second MPDU 522 havedifferent buffer information for different traffic classes. In anembodiment, the first electronic device 110 uses multiple-STA blockacknowledgement (M-BA) to acknowledge the received QoS null frames withdifferent TIDs. For example, the M-BA includes a first indication thatindicates a receiving success of the first MPDU 512 having a first TID,and includes a second indication that indicates a receiving success ofthe second MPDU 522 having a second TID. In another embodiment, thefirst electronic device 110 does not acknowledge the received QoS nullframes with different TIDs.

FIG. 6 shows a diagram 600 for traffic selection according to anembodiment of the disclosure. The diagram shows a table 610 for trafficclassification. In the FIG. 6 example, four access categories aredefined. The four access categories correspond to communication sessionsfor voice applications (VOICE), communication sessions for videoapplications (VIDEO), communication sessions for applications where besteffort communications are sufficient (BEST EFFORT), and communicationsessions for applications where background communications are sufficient(BACKGROUND).

Further, in the FIG. 6 example, for each access category, two prioritylevels share the access category. Each of the eight priority levels isaddressable using a three-bit word in an example. In an embodiment,traffic is classified and buffered according to the priority levels, andthe priority levels are used as traffic identifiers (TIDs) in anexample.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, downlink and uplinktransmissions using A-MPDU include traffic from a primary accesscategory and/or a secondary access category. In an embodiment, amultiple-user transmission opportunity is acquired through enhanceddistributed channel access (EDCA), the AP device/the STA devices canselect different traffic classes for different STA devices. In anembodiment, each access category has a corresponding backoff counter. Inthe embodiment, when a specific backoff counter counts down to zeroduring the EDCA, the length of the multiple-user transmissionopportunity is defined by the access category corresponding to thespecific backoff counter. In the embodiment, when two or more backoffcounters count down to zero at the same time, then among the accesscategories corresponding to the two or more backoff counters, the accesscategory with the highest priority is selected, the length of themultiple-user transmission opportunity is defined by the access categorywith the highest priority.

In another embodiment, a multiple-user transmission opportunity isacquired through target wake time (TWT), then the length of themultiple-user transmission opportunity is defined based on the TWTservice period.

In an embodiment, the AP device decides the primary access category fordownlink transmission or uplink transmission. In an example, the APdevice or an STA device generates single TID A-MPDU based on the primaryaccess category, such as an A-MPDU 620 in FIG. 6. When no MPDU isavailable from the primary access category (e.g., buffers for theprimary access category are empty), in an example, the AP device or theSTA device determines a secondary access category. Then, the AP deviceor an STA device generates single TID A-MPDU based on the secondaryaccess category, such as an A-MPDU 630 in FIG. 6. In another embodiment,an STA device has the final decision about the traffic identifier of theaggregated MPDUs in single TID A-MPDU.

In an example, when multiple-TID A-MPDU is allowable, the AP device orthe STA device aggregates MPDU from primary access category first in anA-MPDU. When the A-MPDU has remaining space, the AP device or the STAdevice determines a secondary access category, and aggregates MPDU fromthe secondary access category in the A-MPDU, such as an A-MPDU 640 inFIG. 6. In another embodiment, an STA device has the final decisionabout the traffic identifiers of the aggregated MPDUs in multiple-TIDA-MPDU.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, when the AP device fails toreceives multiple-user block acknowledgements, the AP device aggregatesblock acknowledgment request (BAR) frames in an A-MPDU or VHT singleMPDU, and transmit signals carrying the A-MPDU or the VHT single MPDU.

FIG. 7 shows examples of A-MPDU 710-730 according to embodiment of thedisclosure.

The A-MPDU 710 includes multiple BAR frames 712 and 715. In an example,each of the BAR frames 712 and 715 request block acknowledgement ofdifferent TIDs.

It is noted that A-MPDU 710 can include or not include other suitablyframes, such as data frames, management frames, and the like. In anexample, the A-MPDU 710 includes a trigger frame 718. In anotherexample, the A-MPDU 710 does not include the trigger frame 718.

The A-MPDU 720 includes a multi-TID BAR frame 722. In an example,multi-TID BAR frame 722 requests block acknowledgement of multiple TIDs.

It is noted that A-MPDU 720 can include or not include other suitablyframes, such as data frames, management frames, and the like. In anexample, the A-MPDU 720 includes a trigger frame 728. In anotherexample, the A-MPDU 720 does not include the trigger frame 728.

The A-MPDU 730 includes a trigger frame 732. The trigger frame includesa specific field that carries block acknowledgement request of multipleTIDs.

When implemented in hardware, the hardware may comprise one or more ofdiscrete components, an integrated circuit, an application-specificintegrated circuit (ASIC), etc.

While aspects of the present disclosure have been described inconjunction with the specific embodiments thereof that are proposed asexamples, alternatives, modifications, and variations to the examplesmay be made. Accordingly, embodiments as set forth herein are intendedto be illustrative and not limiting. There are changes that may be madewithout departing from the scope of the claims set forth below.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising: a transceiver configured to transmit and receive wireless signals; and a processing circuit configured to: configure a field within a data unit for buffer information report; determine a first scale factor for scaling a first value indicative of buffered traffic of a first category, and a second scale factor for scaling a second value indicative of buffered traffic of a category; configure the field to include the first scale factor with the first value and the second scale factor with the second value; and provide the data unit to the transceiver for transmitting to another apparatus that allocates resources for transmission between the two apparatuses.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is configured to set a control subfield with an identifier that is indicative of buffer information report.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first category and the second category respectively correspond to traffic priorities, and the processing circuit is configured to include traffic identifiers of the traffic priorities in the field.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first category includes multiple traffic priorities, and the processing circuit is configured to determine the first scale factor for scaling the first value that is indicative of a sum of buffered traffic of the multiple traffic priorities.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data unit is a null frame that has no data field and has a quality of service (QoS) field that includes buffered traffic information of a specific traffic class that the data unit belongs to.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein when the specific traffic class is one of the first traffic class and the second traffic class, the buffer information report in the field dominates the buffered traffic information of QoS field.
 7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the processing circuit is configured to aggregate the data unit with one or more other data units to generate an aggregated data unit, and provide the aggregated data unit to the transceiver for transmitting to the other apparatus.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is configured to configure two bits in one of a quality of service (QoS) control field and a high efficiency (HE) variant high throughput (HT) control field to select one out of four scale values as the first scale factor.
 9. A method for wireless communication, comprising: configuring, by an apparatus, a field within a data unit for buffer information report, determining a first scale factor for scaling a first value indicative of buffered traffic of a first category, and a second scale factor for scaling a second value indicative of buffered traffic of a category, including the first scale factor with the first value and the second scale factor with the second value in the field within the data unit; and transmitting wireless signals carrying the data unit to another apparatus that allocates resources for transmission between the two apparatuses.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein configuring, by the apparatus, the field within the data unit for buffer information report further comprises: setting a control subfield with an identifier that is indicative of buffer information report.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the first category and the second category respectively correspond to traffic priorities, and the method comprises: including traffic identifiers for the traffic priorities in the field.
 12. The method of claim 9, wherein the first category includes multiple traffic priorities, and the method comprises: determining the first scale factor for scaling the first value that is indicative of a sum of buffered traffic of the traffic priorities.
 13. The method of claim 9, wherein the data unit is a null frame that has no data field and has a quality of service (QoS) field that includes buffered traffic information of a specific traffic class that the data unit belongs to.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein when the specific traffic class is one of the first traffic class and the second traffic class, the buffer information report in the field dominates the buffered traffic information of the QoS field.
 15. The method of claim 9, further comprising: aggregating the data unit with one or more other data units to generate an aggregated data unit; and transmitting wireless signals carrying the aggregated data unit to the other apparatus.
 16. The method of claim 9, further comprising: configuring two bits in one of a quality of service (QoS) control field and a high efficiency (HE) variant high throughput (HT) control field to select one out of four scale values as the first scale factor.
 17. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing program instructions for causing a processor in an apparatus to execute operations for communication, the operations comprising: configuring, a field within a data unit for buffer information report; determining a first scale factor for scaling a first value indicative of buffered traffic of a first category, and a second scale factor for scaling a second value indicative of buffered traffic of a category; including the first scale factor with the first value and the second scale factor with the second value in the field within the data unit; and providing the data unit to a transceiver circuit to transmit wireless signals carrying the data unit to another apparatus that allocates resources for transmission between the two apparatuses.
 18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise: setting a control subfield with an identifier that is indicative of buffer information report.
 19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the first category includes multiple traffic priorities, and the operations comprise: determining the first scale factor for scaling the first value that is indicative of a sum of buffered traffic of the traffic priorities.
 20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the data unit is a null frame that has no data field and has a quality of service (QoS) field that includes buffered traffic information of a specific traffic class that the data unit belongs to. 